Combination picture retaining and item storing device

ABSTRACT

A combination picture retaining and item storing device that has an integrally formed plastic structure. The structure includes at least two sidewalls that extend from a base. At least one of the sidewalls has a hole formed through the sidewall. A storage area is disposed adjacent and integrally formed with the at least two sidewalls. A separate picture retaining member having a translucent planar body including first and second parallel portions are joined at a radius. The first and second parallel portions allow for retention of a picture in a gap formed by the opposing portions. Retaining features formed on an inner surface and around a periphery of the hole positions the picture retaining member within the periphery of the hole and allows for easy removal of the picture retaining member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/361,312, filed Feb. 10, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, issued______, hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/356,565 filed Feb. 11,2002 hereby incorporated by reference

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a combination picture retaining and itemstoring device, and with more particularity to a combination pictureretaining and item storing device having a removable picture retainingmember.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Picture retaining and item storing devices are known in the art.Generally such picture retaining and storage devices are formed of anassembly of parts that are put together to form the overall structure ofsuch a device. There is, therefore, a need in the art for an integrallyformed plastic structure that may be utilized as a picture retaining anditem storing device. Such a plastic structure has the advantage ofproviding for numerous aesthetic features such as different colors, aswell as lettering or other designs incorporated into the structure ofthe picture retaining and storing device. Such a device should be easyto manufacture and allow for numerous configurations to accommodate anumber of primary functions.

There is also a need for a combination picture retaining and itemstoring device that includes a separate picture retaining member thatmay be easily attached and removed from the overall structure of thepicture retaining and storing device. Such a device would allow for easyreplacement of a picture by simply snapping a picture retaining memberwithin retaining features integrally formed on the structure of thedevice. There is, therefore, a need in the art for a combination pictureretaining and item storing device that is an integrally formed plasticstructure that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, as well as allowsfor the quick and simple replacement of pictures contained within thepicture retaining portion of such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A combination picture retaining and item storing device that includes anintegrally formed plastic structure. The structure includes at least twosidewalls that extend from a base. At least one of the sidewalls has ahole formed therein. A storage area is disposed adjacent and integrallyformed with the at least two sidewalls. A separate picture retainingmember that has a translucent planar body having first and secondparallel portions are joined at a radius. The first and second portionsdefine a gap that retains a picture. A plurality of retaining featuresare formed on an inner surface of the sidewall and around a periphery ofthe hole formed in at least one of the sidewalls. The picture retainingmember is positioned within the periphery of the hole and is releasablyretained in position by the plurality of retaining features.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from adescription of preferred embodiments. Reference will be made to drawingfigures that are described in the following section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the combinationpicture holding and item storing device detailing the outer surface andhole formed in one of the sidewalls;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the picture holding and item storing deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view detailing the picture retaining member beingretained by a plurality of retaining features of the picture holding anditem storing device;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the picture holding memberbeing retained by a retaining feature;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a retainingfeature for use by the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a combinationpicture retaining and item storing device detailing raised storagefeatures on an outer surface of one of the sidewalls;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the combinationpicture retaining and item storing device for use as a picture retainingand candle holding device;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the third embodiment depicted in FIG. 7detailing attachment of a picture retaining member within the plasticstructure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment disclosed in FIG. 7used as a soap retaining device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The practice of the invention will be illustrated by describing variousembodiments of a combination picture retaining and item storing devicehaving an integrally formed plastic structure preferably made byinjection molding.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of thecombination picture retaining and item storing device 5 of the presentinvention. As can be seen, the picture retaining and item storing device5 includes an integrally formed plastic structure 10 having at least twosidewalls 15 extending from a base 20. In the pictured embodiment, twosidewalls 15 extend upward from the base 20 at an angle that is themirror image of the opposing sidewall 15. One of the sidewalls 15includes a hole 25 formed therein. The hole 25 is to receive a pictureretaining member 30 as shown in FIG. 2, and will be discussed in moredetail below.

A storage area 35 is disposed adjacent and integrally formed with thetwo opposing sidewalls 15. In the pictured embodiment shown in FIG. 1,the storage area 35 comprises a central trough 40 disposed between andintegrally formed with the two oppositely positioned sidewalls 15. Thecentral trough 40 may be utilized to receive and store items such aspapers or napkins or other similar materials.

A picture retaining member 45, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5,generally comprises a translucent planar body 30 preferably made ofplastic and having first 55 and second 60 parallel portions joined at aradius 65. The first and second portions 55, 60 define a gap 70 forretaining a picture. As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the pictureretaining member 45 is a separate component that may be attached andremoved from a plurality of retaining features 75 formed on an innersurface 80 and around the periphery 85 of the hole 25 formed in at leastone of the sidewalls 15. In a preferred aspect of the present invention,the picture retaining member 45 is positioned within the periphery 85 ofthe hole 25 and releasably retained by the plurality of retainingfeatures 75.

As stated above, the plurality of retaining features 75 formed on theinner surface 80 are positioned around a periphery 85 of the hole 25formed in at least one of the sidewalls 15. In a first aspect of theinvention, and as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of retaining features75 generally comprises two integrally formed and oppositely positionedfixed planar extensions 40 associated with a top portion 95 of theperiphery of the hole 85. The fixed planar extensions 90 mate with thepicture retaining member 45 to locate the picture retaining member 45,rather than grippingly engage the picture retaining member 45 as will bedescribed below with reference to other of the plurality of retainingfeatures 75. Again with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality ofretaining features 75 further comprises two integrally formed andobsolete positioned snap retainers 100 associated with a bottom portion105 of the hole 25. As best seen in FIG. 4, the snap retainers 100comprise a raised protrusion 110 capable of flexing to engage anddisengage the picture retaining member 45. Each protrusion 110 comprisesa planar extension 115 terminating in a bulbous region 120 that snapsover an edge 125 of the picture retaining member 45 when positionedwithin a periphery 85 of the hole 25.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5,the plurality of retaining features 75, again includes two integrallyformed and oppositely positioned fixed planar extensions 90 associatedwith a top portion 95 of the periphery 85 of the hole 25. However, asopposed to the previously described embodiment, the snap retainer 100comprises a centrally located snap retainer 130 positioned along abottom edge 135 of the hole 25. In a preferred aspect, the snap retainer130 comprises a rounded bottom portion 135 that is adapted to be fitinto a retention groove 140 formed in a bottom 145 of the base 20. Acentral portion 145 including a hook portion 150 adapted to be snappedwithin a notch 135 formed on an inner surface 80 of the sidewall 15 thathas the hole 25 formed therein. The snap retainer 130 further includesan upper portion 160 having a flexible finger 165 that engages thepicture retaining member 45. In use, the picture retaining portion 45 ispositioned by the fixed planar extensions 90 previously described andthe snap retainer 130 is pivoted about the rounded bottom portion 135until it is in contact with the picture retaining member 45. In thisposition the hook portion 150 can be snapped into the notch 155. Theflexible finger 165 of the upper portion 160 applies a constant pressureto the picture retaining member 45 holding it in position within theperiphery 85 of the hole 25. Whether the first embodiment of theplurality of fasteners 75 or the second embodiment of the plurality offasteners 75 is utilized by the present invention, the picture retainingmember 45 may be easily attached and removed from the plastic structure10 thereby enabling a person to quickly exchange pictures. Although notshown in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, an outer surface165 of the sidewall 15 may further include decorative patterns orlettering to improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the combinationpicture retaining and item storing device 5. Again, as referenced above,numerous colors may be incorporated into the integrally formed plasticstructure 10.

With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a second embodiment of thecombination picture retaining and item storing device 5 similar inregards to that disclosed in FIG. 1 with the addition of raised storagefeatures 170 formed on an outer surface 165 of the sidewall 15 without ahole 25 formed therein. In a preferred aspect, the raised storagefeatures 170 comprise a pair of brackets 175 spaced from each other andattached to the outer surface 165 of the sidewall 15 for retaining abusiness card. The plurality of retaining features 75 may be asdisclosed in either the first or second embodiment of the retainingfeatures 75.

FIG. 7 displays a third embodiment of the combination picture retainingand item storing device 5 of the present invention. In this embodiment,the picture retaining and item storing device 5 includes a plasticstructure 10 comprising four sidewalls 15 joined to form a pyramidstructure. In a preferred aspect, each of the four sidewalls 15 has ahole 25 formed therein to receive a picture retaining member 45. As withthe previously described embodiments, each of the four sidewalls 15includes a plurality of retaining features 75 formed on an inner surface80 and around a periphery 85 of the holes 25. Either of the embodimentsof the retaining features 75 may be utilized by the pyramid structure,as above described.

The storage area 35 of the third embodiment comprises a flattened,planar surface 180 formed at a top portion 185 of the pyramid structure.With reference to FIG. 7, the flattened, planar surface 180 may furtherinclude a depression 190 formed therein for receiving an item such as acandle.

With reference to FIG. 9, an alternative design of the third embodimentmay further include a soap dish 195 that is positioned atop theflattened planar surface 180. Other items including an ashtray,potpourri dish or other similar item may be placed atop the flattenedplanar surface 180 of the third embodiment.

While the invention has been described in terms of certain preferredembodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments could readily bedevised by one skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is to beconsidered limited only by the following claims.

1. A combination picture retaining and item storing device comprising:an integrally formed plastic structure having at least two sidewallsextending from a base, the sidewalls including inner and outer surfaces,at least one of the at least two sidewalls having a hole formed therein;a storage area disposed adjacent and integrally formed with the at leasttwo sidewalls comprising raised storage features formed on the outersurface of the sidewall without the hole formed therein; a pictureretaining member comprising a translucent planar body having first andsecond parallel portions joined at a radius, the first and secondportions defining a gap for retaining a picture; a plurality ofretaining features formed on an inner surface and around a periphery ofthe hole formed in at least one of the sidewalls; the picture retainingmember positioned within the periphery of the hole and releasablyretained in position by the plurality of retaining features.
 2. Thecombination picture retaining and item storing device of claim 1 whereinthe plastic structure comprises two oppositely positioned sidewalls. 3.The combination picture retaining and item storing device of claim 1wherein the raised storage features comprises a pair of brackets spacedfrom each other and attached to the outer surface of the sidewallwithout the hole formed therein for retaining a business card.
 4. Acombination picture retaining and item storing device comprising: anintegrally formed plastic structure having at least two sidewallsextending from a base, the sidewalls including inner and outer surfaces,at least one of the at least two sidewalls having a hole formed thereinwherein the plastic structure comprises four sidewalls joined to form apyramid structure; a storage area disposed adjacent and integrallyformed with the at least two sidewalls; a picture retaining membercomprising a translucent planar body having first and second parallelportions joined at a radius, the first and second portions defining agap for retaining a picture; a plurality of retaining features formed onan inner surface and around a periphery of the hole formed in at leastone of the sidewalls; the picture retaining member positioned within theperiphery of the hole and releasably retained in position by theplurality of retaining features.
 5. The combination picture retainingand item storing device of claim 4 wherein each of the four sidewallshas a hole formed therein.
 6. The combination picture retaining and itemstoring device of claim 4 wherein each of the four sidewalls includes aplurality of retaining features formed on an inner surface and around aperiphery of the holes.
 7. The combination picture retaining and itemstoring device of claim 4 further including four picture retainingmembers positioned within a periphery of the four holes and releasablyretained in position by the plurality of retaining features.
 8. Thecombination picture retaining and item storing device of claim 4 whereinthe storage area comprises a flattened planar surface formed at a topportion of the pyramid structure.
 9. The combination picture retainingand item storing device of claim 4 further including a depression formedin the flattened planar surface for receiving a candle.
 10. Thecombination picture retaining and item storing device of claim 4 furtherincluding a soap dish positioned atop the flattened planar surface. 11.The combination picture retaining and item storing device of claim 4further including an ashtray positioned atop the flattened planarsurface.
 12. A combination picture retaining and item storing devicecomprising: an integrally formed plastic structure having four sidewallsjoined to form a pyramid structure, the sidewalls including inner andouter surfaces, at least one of the four sidewalls having a hole formedtherein; a storage area comprising a flattened planar surface formed ata top portion of the pyramid structure; a picture retaining membercomprising a translucent planar body having first and second parallelportions joined at a radius, the first and second portions defining agap for retaining a picture; a plurality of retaining features formed onan inner surface and around a periphery of the hole formed in at leastone of the sidewalls; the picture retaining member positioned within theperiphery of the hole and releasably retained in position by theplurality of retaining features.